Beer keg container



April 19, 1966 H. G. ZASTROW 3,246,825

BEER KEG CONTAINER Filed June 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR #49040 G. ZASTROW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,246,825 BEER KEG CONTAINER Harold G. Zastrow, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation 10f Minnesota Filed June 24, 1964, Ser. No. 377,530 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to an improvement in a beer keg container and deals particularly with a paperboard container including a small keg of beer or a similar product and in which the :keg may [be carried and retained.

)Many persons prefer the flavor of draft 'beer to that of bottled or canned beer. However, it is often inconvenient for the user to carry a keg of the product home and to return 'it to the liquor store after it has been emptied. Furthermore, it has usually been necessary to tap the keg and to apply a pump to the keg so became mislaid or were lost, causing inconvenience in returning the kegs.

A .feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a container which fits snugly about the keg and encloses not only the keg, but the dispensing tap ,mounted in one end of the keg. The container is closed .and sealed at the brewery. A potential opening flap as defined by weakened lines of separation is provided in one of the container walls designed to overlie the end of the .keg bearing the tap. When the product is to be dispensed, this opening tab is swung open to expose the keg end. The tab is hingedto a wall adjoining that containing the opening flap. After the flap has been opened, it may be swung beneath this adjoining wall to rest between the container and the supporting shelf in a refrigerator. When in this position, the product may, if desired, be dispensed without removing the keg from the refrigerator.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a container of the type described in which the opening flap extends entirely across the wall of the container which overlie-s an end of the keg. A glue flap connecting four of the walls of the container in tubular relation underlies an end of the opening flap and may be adhered thereto during the gluing operation. When the flap is swung into open position, the adhesive securing the opening flap to the glue flap "is broken away so that the opening flap may be easily separated along the perforated lines or other weakened lines of separation. When the keg is emptied, the end of the opening flap which has been detached from the glue flap may be tucked between the end of the keg and the glue flap to reclose the container for its return trip.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an opening flap having a pair of generally U-shaped outlines in opposed relation through which a finger and thumb may be inserted. 'Ihese tabs overlie the recessed end portions of the keg. By inserting the fingers through the openings formed by bending the areas defined by the U-shaped cut 'lines inwardly, the opening flap may be readily grasped to open this flap.

A further :tteature of the present invention resides in the provision of a fold line extending across the opening flap parallel to the fold line hinging the opening flap to the remainder ofthe'container. This permits the flap to be bent intermediate its ends for simplifying the reclosing operation.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of'my specification:

FIGURE .1 is a perspective 'view of the closed container as it is supplied by the brewery.

:FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the opening flap in partially open position.

FIGURE 3 is aperspective view o f the open container in readiness for dispensing the contents.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the container showing the beer keg in place therein.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the container in partially reclosed position FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the top of the container in reclosed position.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the container is formed.

The container A is designed to contain the beer keg B. The beer keg B is of its largest diameter near its longitudinal center part v10 and tapers or bows toward the opposite ends. The ends 12 or at least the end 11 of the keg has a recessed end 13 providing a rounded peripheral rim encircling the end. A tap or faucet 14 is secured centrally to the recessed end 13 and controls the flow of fluid through an outlet tube :15. A svphon tube such as 16 may be provided on the interior of the keg extending to a lowermost portion of the keg so that virtually all of the contents may be drained. The keg is pressurized to the extent necessary to force the liquid therefrom. The tap 14 and outlet 15 do not extend past the plane of the rim of the end 11 for protection of the tap and outlet.

The container A is formed of the blank best illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. The blank includes a side wall panel 17, a bottom panel 19, a side wall panel 20, and a top wall panel 21 connected along parallel lines of fold 22, 23, and 24 respectively. A glue flap 25 is hingedly connected to the side wall 17 along a parallel line of fold 26. In describing the various walls as side, top, and bottom walls, it should be explained that the walls are in this relation when the keg is standing vertically on its bottom end 12. When the keg is 'in dispensing position with its axis horizontal, as in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the walls 17 and 20 form the top and bottom walls respectively and the walls 19 and 2 1 form the vertical front and rear walls respectively. 7

Closure flaps 27, 29, 30, and 31 are hingedly connected to the upper and lower edges of the panel 17, '19, 20, and 21 along parallel lines of and 32 and 33. Hand holes 34 are cut in the flaps 31 connected to the top panel 21 and extend parallel to the fold lines 32 and 3 3 connecting the flaps 3-1 to the top panel 21. The flaps 27 and 30 are each provided with half hand holes 35' and 36 which register with the hand holes 34 in the flaps 31 when the flaps are closed. The hand holes 3 5 and 36 may be formed by J shaped out lines which terminate in spaced relation to the edges of the flaps 27 and 30 to provide handle flaps 37 and 39 hingedly connected to the panels 27 and 30 along fold lines 40 and 41 respectively. These flaps 37 and 39 may be folded into the container to permit insertion of the fingers through the hand holes 34.

The panel 21 is provided with a potential flap indicated in general by the numeral 42 defined by perforated lines,

or other lines of weakness, in the panel. The center portion of the flap 42 is defined by arcuate lines of perforation 43 which are preferably concentric and centered relative to the panel 21 so that the center of arcuation is aligned with the axis of the keg. The arcuate perforated lines 43 are connected by generally parallel spaced perforated lines 44 to the hinged line 24. The other ends of the arcuate lines 43 are connected by converging perforated lines 45 which extend to the end edge 48 of the tween the weakened lines 45. The fold lines 47 and 49 are parallel to the fold line 24 connecting the panel 21 to A the panel 20. U-shaped cut lines 50 are arranged in opposed relation in the flap 42 near the fold line 47, the cut lines 50 defining tabs 51 connected to the body of the flap 42 along parallel fold lines 52. The tabs 51 are foldable inwardly to admit a thumb and finger to simplify the separation of the flap 42 from the remainder of the panel 21.

After the keg B has been filled, it is placed in the container A and the container is closed. Usually, one side of the container is closed prior to the insertion of the keg and the closing of the other side. The closure is effected by folding the flaps 29 and 31 in a common plane, and then folding the flaps 27 and 30 into a common plane in face contact with the inner flaps 29 and 31. The flaps are secured in face contact by staples or stitches such as 53 or by the use of a suitable adhesive. The container blank has been previously secured in tubular form by adhering or otherwise connecting the glue flap 25 to the undersurface of the edge 46 of the panel 21.

During storage and shipment, the kegs B usually remain upright in the position shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. When the product is to be dispensed, the free end 54 of the flap 42 is detached from the glue flap 25. If

desired, a portion of the area between the flap 42 and the glue flap 25 may be printed or otherwise treated with a glue repellent to simplify the disengagement. The end 54 of the tab may be pulled upwardly as indicated in FIG- URE 2 to separate the flap 42 from the remainder of the panel 21 along the weakened lines. By inserting the thumb and finger of one hand through the openings formed by the tabs 51, both hands may be used to detach the flap 42 from the position shown in FIGURE 2, if desired. When the flap 42 has been disengaged, it is folded along the fold line 24 to lie in face contact with the panel 20. The container is then placed in a refrigerator or on another supporting surface, the container then appearing as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. From this position, the contents of the keg may be dispensed.

After the contents have been used, the ends 54 of the flap 42 may be inserted beneath the glue flap 25 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. This is done by swinging the flap 42 back toward its original position as indicated in FIGURE 5, and folding the flap along the fold lines 47 and 49 until the end of the flap 42 is engaged between the keg end .11 and the glue flap 25.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my beer container; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A keg package including a keg having a recessed end, a rounded rim encircling said recessed end, and a tap attached to the keg in said recessed end,

rectangularly arranged wall panels including two parallel end panels overlying opposed ends of said keg and two parallel side panels connecting said end panels,

closure flaps connected to said side and end panels and secured together to enclose said keg,

a reclosure flap defined by weakened lines of separation in the one end panel overlying said recessed end,

said weakened lines extending in spaced relation from the juncture between said one end panel and an adjoining side wall and defining an area outwardly of said tap,

a flange hinged to the other adjoining side panel and secured in face contact with the inner surface of said one end panel,

said weakened lines extending to the edge of said one end panel overlying said flange,

the terminal portions of said one end panel between said weakened lines and overlying said flange being separable from said flange as said reclosure flap is separated along said weakened lines,

said terminal portion of said reclosure flap being insertable between said rounded rim of said keg end and said flange for reclosure.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the central portion of said reclosure flap is widened to expose the center portion of said one keg end.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which the reclosure flap includes spaced finger openings in the area of said recessed end adjacent to said flange to facilitate separation of said reclosure flap.

4. The structure of claim 1 and including a score line extending across said reclosure flap parallel to the score line connecting said reclosure flap to said one side line and intermediate the ends thereof.

5. The structure of claim 4 and including an additional score line extending across said reclosure flap parallel to said previously described fold lines and in said terminal portion thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 237,884 2/1881 Mainzer et a1.

2,002,364 5/ 1935 Daller 229-51 2,087,349 7/ 1937 Lucker 220-68 2,381,385 8/1945 Kuhn.

2,473,492 6/1949 Shina 229-17 2,700,578 1/1955 Effard 222-183 X 3,078,018 2/ 1963 Galloway 222-183 3,087,655 4/ 1963 Scholle 222-14 X JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A KEG PACKAGE INCLUDING A KEG HAVING A RECESSED END, A ROUNDED RIM ENCIRCLING SAID RECESSED END, AND A TAP ATTACHED TO THE KEG IN SAID RECESSED END, RECTANGULARLY ARRANGED WALL PANELS INCLUDING TWO PARALLEL END PANELS OVERLYING OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID KEG AND TWO PARALLEL SIDE PANELS CONNECTING SAID END PANELS, CLOSURE FLAPS CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE AND END PANELS AND SECURED TOGETHER TO ENCLOSE SAID KEG, A RECLOSURE FLAP DEFINED BY WEAKENED LINES OF SEPARATION IN THE ONE END PANEL OVERLYING SAID RECESSED END, SAID WEAKENED LINES EXTENDING IN SPACED RELATION FROM THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID ONE END PANEL AND AN ADJOINING SIDE WALL AND DEFINING AN AREA OUTWARDLY OF SAID TAP, A FLANGE HINGED TO THE OTHER ADJOINING SIDE PANEL AND SECURED IN FACE CONTACT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID ONE END PANEL, SAID WEAKENED LINES EXTENDING TO THE EDGE OF SAID ONE END PANEL OVERLYING SAID FLANGE, THE TERMINAL PORTIONS OF SAID ONE END PANEL BETWEEN SAID WEAKENED LINES AND OVERLYING SAID FLANGE BEING SEPARABLE FROM SAID FLANGE AS SAID RECLOSURE FLAP IS SEPARATED ALONG SAID WEAKENED LINES, SAID TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID RECLOSURE FLAP BEING INSERTABLE BETWEEN SAID ROUNDED RIM OF SAID KEG END AND SAID FLANGE FOR RECLOSURE. 